Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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321. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of local authorities that have responded to Circular 2025/01 regarding designation of UDZs issues on 6 June 2025; and if he has received any requests for UDZ designation from any local authority. [62516/25]

John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Circular 2025/01 notified planning authorities and other key stakeholders of the commencement of Chapters 1 and 2 of Part 22 of the Planning and Development Act 2024 (Act of 2024) by way of the Planning and Development Act 2024 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 239 of 2025) coming into effect from 9th June 2025. These provisions set out the initial steps in a broader process concerning the designation of a candidate ‘urban development zone’ or ‘UDZ’.

Section 597 of the Act of 2024 provides that a planning authority may identify sites in its functional areas where development may be of significant economic, social or environmental benefit to the State and be in the common good. Such sites are referred to as “suitable sites”.

No local authority has made a request for UDZ designation to date. Commencement of further provisions within Part 22 are necessary to allow for progression of the statutory process, including public consultation. My Department continues to engage with the local authorities in relation to this new legislative provision which aims to provide for an updated and more flexible approach to the masterplanning and delivery of areas with significant potential for large-scale development and the associated necessary infrastructure, replacing the provisions providing for the Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) process under Part IX of the Planning & Development Act, 2000.